How much does window repair cost in Virginia?

What decides the price

There is no honest single number for window repair in Virginia, because the cost depends on what is wrong and who does the work. Loclis has no dated price from a Virginia public source to quote, so this page explains what drives the cost and how to pin it down in a written quote, rather than guess at figures.

Window jobs run from nearly free to a carpenter's day or more:

• A sticking or drifting sash. Often cleaning, wax or a new cord. Repairs to wooden windows are usually labor intensive and relatively uncomplicated,^[1] so the cost is mostly the time and the visit.
• Broken glass or failed glazing. A new pane, putty or sealant, and paint.
• Rot in the sill, sash or frame. Wood repair or replacement, then priming and painting. This is where costs climb.
• A failed seal or a leaking unit. Often a replacement of the glass unit or the whole window.

Try the free fixes first

Clean the tracks and the sash edges, check whether the window is painted shut and look at whether the problem is a broken cord, as in how to fix a window that will not stay open. Do not pay a call-out fee for what a rag and some wax can solve.

What raises the price of a visit

• The call-out. Many small jobs cost mostly the minimum visit.
• The number of windows. Several windows in one visit cost less each than one alone.
• Height. An upper-floor window needs more equipment and time.
• Window type. Older wood units, custom sizes and specialty glass cost more to match.
• Paint age. In a pre-1978 house, anyone paid to perform work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices,^[2] which can add to the quote.
• Hidden damage. A soft sill or wet wall turns a small job into carpentry.

What a licence means at this size of job

DPOR's consumer guide says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[4] The Code of Virginia defines Class C contractors as those whose single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000.^[5] A single window repair is usually below that line; several windows at once may not be.

Get the price in writing

Ask each person who quotes to put on paper the work, window by window, the materials and finish, the call-out fee, how paint will be handled and whether a second visit is included. It is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.^[4]

Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[4] DPOR's rule of thumb is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[4] ENERGY STAR's advice on window contractors is that reputable companies will give you a cost estimate that is good for at least 30 days.^[3]

If money is tight, ENERGY STAR notes that the federal Weatherization Assistance Program includes common improvements such as repairing windows or replacing a few damaged windows.^[3]

Stop and call a pro if

• The wood is soft or rotted around the sill or frame.
• The window is above the first floor. Do not lean out or work from a ladder.
• The job is valued at $1,000 or more. Virginia requires a licensed contractor at that size.^[4]
• The house was built before 1978 and paint will be disturbed. A paid contractor must be lead-safe certified.^[2]

Getting help in Virginia

If the repair may not be worth the money, read whether to repair or replace original wood windows. More pricing and how-to guides are on the Home Repair answers page, and local pros are listed under Doors and Windows on Loclis.

When you are ready, describe the window and local pros will quote it in writing.